"Would you go on a date with me?"

Alex looked speechless, her mouth hanging slightly open. I began growing nervous. I know we're technically dating and all that, but maybe this was a step too quick!? What if she says no!? Wait, would she say no!? Would-

"Yes."

I blinked once, my heart still racing. "What?"

"Yes," Alex repeated, taking my hands and giving me a warm smile. Even though the sun had gone down, it felt as if my world had never been brighter.

We walked hand-in-hand down the street, the festivities well underway. Paper lanterns hung from the tops of the festive tents that lined up and down on both sides of the main street. Kids were begging their parents for the stuffed Pokemon plushie prizes, food stalls were serving delicious festive snacks, and other couples were walking about. And it was just the two of us enjoying the festival together.

"So this is our first date," Alex leaned into my side. "It feels like we've been journeying together for so long that being like this doesn't feel that much different."

"I know what you mean," I said, my mind unwillingly clinging onto what she had just said.

"So this is our first date."

For you, I suppose it is, I thought. But with Willow, I... No, don't think about her. She's dead and I have Alex now. I can't afford to think about you, Willow. I'm sorry, but I should make the most of what I have now in life.

I gripped Alex's hand a little tighter. I was determined to make this date a memorable one. But...

I stopped walking and looked at Alex. "It's... been a while since I've done this." I really hoped she couldn't see my nervousness. "But, what should we do on a date?"

Alex chuckled. "Oh, Zeno." I felt myself grow red. Her smile, it was... She tugged on my hand, glancing back with that affectionate gaze. "That's so like you."

I let her drag me over to a booth where a couple of kids had just moved on from. A tubful of Goldeens swam within and the booth guy held out a large bowl and paper tools with a handle.

"Oh!" Alex grinned. "I've done this kind of thing back in Hoenn." She took a bowl and tool from the guy and crouched next to the tub. I watched her narrow her eyes, growing very still, tool hovering just inches above the Goldeen infested water. Then with a quick scoop, she had a Goldeen in her bowl.

"Nice!" The booth manager clapped his hands. "That's one of the fastest scoops I've ever seen!"

"Let me try," I said and Alex moved over. I moved the paper tool, getting a feel for it. Basically weightless, paper just strong enough to hold a Goldeen for barely a second, and a bowl that was just slightly bigger than the Water types. I slowed my breathing, watching them swim around, not a care in the-

SPLASH

I stared, dumbfounded at the broken paper, the Goldeen I had failed to nab glaring at me from the tub. Alex burst out laughing as I sighed, handing the bowl back to the man and tossing the paper tool in a trash can.

"Sorry," Alex wiped away a tear from her eye as we walked away. "You just looked so serious, it was just really funny to see you fail."

"Glad to hear it," I said drily, but I couldn't help myself from laughing with her. I noticed her empty hands. "You didn't keep the Goldeen?"

"No," Alex shook her head. "Not really my kind of Pokemon. Plus, I'd feel bad just taking one."

"I know what you mean," I nodded. "If N was here, I'd think he'd have something to say about that game."

"I think he was definitely right about some things," Alex said. Her eyes widened as she spotted a booth. "Come on! Let's go to that one next!"

This time it was a ring toss game. Alex got three rings and tossed them over the bottles. They clattered around the necks of three bottles, one of them being a top prize winner.

"Take your pick," the woman said, gesturing to the wall of face masks. I peered at them. I recognized Cheren's face and Roxie's. So these must be masks of gym leaders. Then I saw the Champion masks. A couple of Diantha, Alder, and...

"That one!" Alex pointed, stifling a laugh. "I want, no, I need that one!"

As we walked away, with me failing to get a top prize, Alex held up her mask of Alola's Champion; Hau.

"Oh man am I gonna tease him so much for this," Alex laughed as she put his face on. "What do you think?"

"You're much more beautiful without it," I snorted.

Alex stopped, her facing steadily turning crimson. I felt my face grow hot and I quickly looked away. Taking a quick breath, I turned back, holding my hand back out to her. "The night's still young."

Alex coughed into her fist, adjusting the Hau mask so it sat on the side of her head. Her smile then returned. "I guess it is."

Upon Alex's request, we visited various game booths. Alex, having more experience in them, was sporting a hefty winning streak against me.

"Okay, last one," Alex said after finishing the last bite of her takoyaki. "There's the last booth."

The guy manning the booth sat to one side on a stool, adjusting the large cardboard cutout of a Camerupt. Various prizes hung on the wall behind the cardboard Camerupt. On the counter sat three metal cylinders, which looked like the cannons from a Blastoise, but with triggers and smaller barrels.

"I'll explain the rules," the guy said. "You get up to 3 shots. Hit one ring, you get nothing. Two rings, small prize. Hit all three and you can get some of the better prizes. The catch is that you'll need to fire three consecutive shots in around a second or the trigger freezes up."

"I've done this before too," Alex said, picking up a gun. "Well, the quick shot thing is new, but the concept is about the sa-"

CRACK

Alex lowered the gun, disappointed. "Well, there goes my winning streak." She smirked, stepping back. "Your turn, Zeno. Maybe you'll win this one."

I took one of the guns, hefting it. It wasn't metal, but hard plastic. Pellets shaped like water droplets were the ammunition. I lightly held my finger against the trigger. Feeling the slight resistance, a bit of force would be required.

I raised the gun, aiming at the first blue ring on Camerupt's side.

"Do you really need a gun?"

I stopped, finger about to press on the trigger. Despite my intentions, I found myself back during my brief time with Willow in Saffron.

"Do you really need a gun?" Willow asked, leaning over the top of the chair as I stared at the deadly weapon in my hand. Growlithe whined softly at the sight of it. We had returned back to our cabin just outside of Saffron after a run-in with a gang. One of them had this gun, and before they could use it, I had taken it for myself. I didn't kill them, but I left them with wounds they would remember. Yet, I felt regret.

"I..." I hesitated, gripping the gun's handle. A weapon I had used many times in the name of Team Rocket and Giovanni. A weapon I never had a problem using... until now that is.

Willow got off the chair and sat herself next to me on the couch. She closed her hand around my own, removing the gun from my grip. "You don't need this, Zeno. It's not you, not anymore. You've already left that part of your past behind."

I felt tears threatening to come. I tried to speak, but Willow stopped me with a finger. She placed the gun on the little coffee table before removing her finger.

"Promise me," Willow said, leaning in close, her gaze serious. "That you'll never use a gun ever again. Please."

I met her eyes. "I... I promise."

She smiled, then leaned in the rest of the way, beautiful amber eyes closing as her lips pressed against mine...

I shook my head, forcing the memory away. I became aware of Alex giving me an odd look. I had stood here long enough. Raising the gun, I took aim again. I would never use a gun ever again. That was my promise. But... this is just a game. And I won't let those memories stop me from enjoying my time with Alex.

CRACK CRACK CRACK

I lowered the gun. The booth guy gaped, then laughed aloud. "All three!? Impressive! Take your pick of the prizes young man!"

Despite my thoughts, I didn't feel right using even this toy. But I pushed back my feelings and pointed to the first prize that caught my eye. "I'll take that one."

"It looks so cute," Alex reached out with her hands, fingers groping the air inches away from my prize.

I chuckled, holding out the Ninetales plushy. "Want it?"

"What?" Alex looked up at me. "Really? But you won it."

I shrugged. "Can't a guy give his girlfriend a gift?"

Alex blushed and took it, squeezing it as she looked away. "Of all the times to act like... like..."

"What happened to being sarcastic and having snarky comments?" I teased. "You've become quite bashful."

Alex stomped on my foot. I cringed. She smirked at my attempt to hide the pain. "What was that about me?"

"Nothing," I grunted, shaking my foot. She had a good kick.

"That's what I thought," she said, still smirking. "So," she grabbed my hand while still holding onto the plushie with the other. "Where to next?"

I looked around and spotted a sign with an arrow pointing down another street towards all the warehouses. "Art Exhibit," I read. "How about there?"

"How the heck is this art?" Alex said in disbelief, frowning at the almost completely white painting. We had found the warehouse where the art exhibit was taking place and were going around, studying each and every painting. Alex seemed genuinely interested in them, while I found myself content just being with her. "Beartic in a snowstorm? This has gotta be a joke."

"Art is art," a voice said from behind us. "One person's trash is another's treasure."

We turned to see a man walking into the warehouse. People began muttering, eyeing the brown haired man. He wore a lime green shirt with a very big V-neck and red pants with vertical green and black stripes, topped off with a butterfly belt buckle.

"Is that-?"

"Castelia's gym leader-"

"Burgh-"

The man smiled, dipping a courtesy to everyone in the room. "How could I, Burgh, miss out on Nacrene City's famous Art Exhibit? 'Tis would be a crime if I didn't make an appearance."

"Hey," a voice drawled and an ash-blonde woman in old painting clothes stepped forwards. She smiled slightly, her expression one of being laidback as a Ribombee twirled around her head. "So you're the Burgh I've heard tons about. It's nice to meet a famous Unovan painter."

"Ah, you must be Mina," Burgh swooped over to her, shaking her hand warmly. "It's a pleasure meeting the famous Fairy Trial Captain from Alola. Your paintings are truly exquisite masterpieces!"

"Trial Captain?" I glanced at Alex. "I don't remember doing a Fairy Trial?"

"Maybe she's new?" Alex suggested with a shrug.

Mina glanced our way as we passed, intent on heading to the adjacent warehouse where art was being sold. I saw the Trial Captain tilt her head at us, then her eyes widened. "Wait!"

Alex and I stopped as Mina hurried over, her Ribombee circling me, then Alex, as if appraising us. Mina halted a foot away, holding up her hands to form a rectangle that she peered through to look at me. "Not quite the same clothes, but... Zeno, correct?"

"And how do you know me?" I asked.

"You did Alola's Island Challenge, correct?" Mina said, leaning in closer. "Hm, Hau said you tended to wear all black?"

"I think I've managed to change that about him," Alex said proudly, which earned her a glare from me.

"The one who saved Alola," Mina muttered, twisting her hands as if to find a better angle to look at me. "The Hero Born of Darkness... Yes, maybe those colors will work?"

Ribombee made a chirping noise, tugging at Mina's hands. "Ah," Mina lowered them and glanced at her Pokemon. "Am I being too persistent again?" She turned back to us, bowing her head slightly. "Sorry for that."

"It's alright," I said. "But what was that about colors?"

"Black," Mina tilted her head again, eyes growing distant. "But how to offset that much..."

"Gold," Alex chipped in. "Gold coloring around him would do nicely."

"Wait," I began to realize what was going on. "No no, let's stop this-"

"Gold!" Mina lifted her head, somehow looking excited while maintaining her laidback expression. "That will fit nicely on a canvas."

"Okay, hold on-"

"Let's get going, Zeno," Alex smirked, tugging me towards the doors. "I hope I get to see the painting of you someday."

"Great," I muttered. "Just what I need. What's next? Folk tales?"

"Not a bad idea," Alex giggled. "Maybe I'll call up Hau and ask."

"Please don't."

We entered the next warehouse where we found various portraits of landscapes and Pokemon, including one that featured both Primarina and Milotic underwater. But it seemed that the art wasn't just limited to paintings. Miniature sculptures and even various dresses with intricate designs seemed to be on sale. An emerald green dress with curved patterns and a kimono with flame designs seemed to be getting the most attention from the women in the warehouse, both kept in tall, glass cases.

"Wow," Alex said in awe, taking a step towards both dresses. "It's beautiful..."

I watched her place a hand on the glass case containing the flame designed kimono. The main body of it was white with orange to dark red flames rising from the bottom of the dress, complete with a dark red sash in the middle. Glancing down, I read the price tag. I rubbed my eyes. Yep, still expensive. 50,000 Pokedollars. I stepped back, thinking quickly. By the looks of the people here, there was at least one rich couple moving slowly this way.

While trainers certainly made money through official Pokemon battles, a lot of that money would generally be spent towards healing items, food for your Pokemon, and places to stay the night. Thankfully, Robert's connections helped him give us free access or discounts on lots of stuff, so he'd been paying for mostly everything. Alex and I had tried to fight him on that, but he had insisted. So I was left with some of the money I had managed to save up from my travels in Alola, Kalos, and Unova.

I dug out my trainer's card from my back pocket. I never used this thing much for anything, but it did conveniently display how much money I owned. If I bought this kimono, I would be left with... barely a quarter of what I had now.

The couple was closer now. While I had no idea if they would even be interested in buying this kimono, the woman looked to be in her twenties, so there was always that chance...

I walked around the case to the man who was finishing selling the Primarina and Milotic painting to an elderly man. He wore a fine suit and seemed to appraise me as I approached.

"Yes?" He inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Can the kimono be modified to suit an individual?" I jerked my thumb back at it.

Alex, who had still been staring at the kimono, snapped out of her stupor. "Zeno? What are you doing?"

"It can indeed," the man nodded. "Once the wearer is measured, we can have it tailored and shipped to them within a couple of days."

"Then that's perfect," I held out my trainer's card. "Are you able to scan this?"

"Zeno, wait!" Alex tugged on my arm, eyes wide. "Why-!?"

I smiled. "Why not?"

"But-!?"

"All done, sir," the man handed me back my card. He snapped his fingers and a woman in a black suit walked over. He then addressed Alex. "Young lady, if you could follow her into the back. We will ensure the kimono will fit you."

Alex was at a loss for words, glancing between me and the woman guiding her away, her face mouthing something, but nothing came out. I waited for a minute before Alex rejoined me. Her face was red and she wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked as we left the warehouse and began walking down the street back towards the main festival.

Alex refused to answer for a minute before she rounded on me. "That kimono was expensive! Why would you buy it!? That was crazy and stupid!" She was breathing heavily, rage burning in her eyes. She looked like she wanted to yell some more things, but she restrained herself.

"I'm sorry," I took her hands, but she refused to look at me. "But you looked like you really wanted it. And I... I wanted you to have it."

Alex huffed, but didn't say anything.

I closed my eyes, smiling. "I think... No, you would definitely look beautiful in it." I reopened my eyes to see her staring wide-eyed at me, color flushing her cheeks.

She jabbed me in the chest with a finger, digging in her nail. A dangerous smile formed. "Alright, fine. But from now on, I won't allow you to buy me anything. And I mean anything. Until I buy you enough stuff that equals fifty thousand, you'll abide by my terms."

"Alright alright," I said quickly, trying not to laugh. "Understood, ma'am."

Alex withdrew her finger and crossed her arms. She seemed to struggle, then said quietly, "Thank you."

I squeezed her hands. "I love you, Alex. That's why I did it."

She smacked my arm. "Keep talking smooth, it won't get you anywhere. I'm already getting used to it." She turned away, maybe to hide her blush. "So how about we go visit the Museum to see this new exhibit."

I contained a laugh. "Sure, why not."

"Looks like you made it in time for the third showing," a tall black woman greeted Alex as both of us entered the museum. "And who's this?" She asked, looking at me.

"Lenora, this is Zeno, my, um, boyfriend," Alex said, a tinge of red rising. "And this is Lenora, Nacrene's Gym Leader."

"Really?" I shook Lenora's hand. "Well, maybe tomorrow I'll have to stop by for a battle if you're not too busy."

"I'll be free," a twinkle shone in Lenora's eyes. "And I certainly can't wait to see what a friend of Alex's can bring to the battlefield." She clapped her hands loudly and faced the tour group, of which there were eight of us. "Alright everyone! Follow me and you'll get early access to some of Nacrene Museum's newest artifacts!"

"When did you have time to battle her?" I asked Alex as we followed the group from the back.

"When I volunteered to help out at the library," she said back. "Some writer named Shauntal apparently has heard of us and wanted to see me in action, so Lenora suggested an official gym match." She held up a shining badge similar to the one Cheren gave me. "And take a gander at who won."

I rolled my eyes as we followed the group into a side room away from the main part of the museum. It was a big room and had dimmed lights overhead. Various glass cases lined the walls and a large skeletal figure stood in the center of the room.

"Usually the main attraction is one best saved for last," Lenora said, standing beneath it. "But in this case it's quite too large to ignore." She laughed heartily before saying, "This here is a 60,000 year old fossil of a Dragonite. If you notice, it has two horns instead of one on its skull. And it has a slimmer body than the Dragonites we know today. At first we had thought it to be of a similar species, but now we know that it is indeed a Dragonite. For whatever reason, as time went on, the species went from two horns to one and a bigger build. It's been judged that this Dragonite could have flown around the entire world in no less than a week. Special thanks to Clay for digging this particular fossil up for us!"

As it turned out, more than half of the fossils on display in the room were from Clay, his name written at the bottom of the plaques. The biggest attractions seemed to be around unique artifacts like a red tribal mask that came from a mostly undiscovered region far South from Unova, clay tablets with strange scripts carved into them, and a small meteor.

"While this just looks like a stone artifact, it's shape shows just how much effort had been put into carving it," Lenora said, stopping by a small case with a black stone inside. Three curved indents on its sides and top curved around the back and met together, looking so smooth it looked natural. "It's also made of a material we're not familiar with," Lenora went on. "And its structure inside remains a puzzle indeed."

As everyone began to move on, I stopped by the case. I dropped to one knee, inspecting the stone more closely. I couldn't explain why, but I wanted to know more about this stone.

"Zeno? You coming?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding to Alex before standing. Giving one last glance back at the stone, I followed after my girlfriend.

"Ahh," Alex sighed, setting down her cup of steaming coffee. She clasped my hand from across the small, round table. "Thank you for today, Zeno."

"You're very welcome," I said, smiling back at her.

"Now, I hope you remember that I'm the one paying for this, right?" She emphasized by squeezing my hand a little too tightly this time.

"Ow ow, alright," I pulled my hand free.

We sat at a tiny table outside the Café Warehouse I had seen earlier today. It was this place that had made me think of taking Alex here on a date. After enjoying the festival, looking at art, and seeing the museum, we came here to finish our first date together.

As I set down my coffee after a drink, Alex folded her hands on the table. "Zeno, I want to ask you something."

I paused, fingers still lingering on the glass handle. She looked serious.

"Yeah, sure," I nodded, unsure of what she was going to say.

"About when we helped out that girl at the orphanage," Alex said. "Marilynn. When she was almost hit by that attack at the cave, you yelled a different name."

I didn't say anything. I had to force myself to meet her gaze.

"You yelled 'Mira'," Alex said, not asking, but stating. "Wasn't that-"

"The little girl I had failed to save," I finished, interrupting her. "Yeah, that was her name."

Alex opened her mouth, then closed it, reconsidering. Finally, "Was it because she looked like her?"

"No," I said, not wanting to talk about it. Yet, my mouth didn't listen. "Mira has-" I choked on my words. "Had black hair and wore a white dress. She couldn't have been even 10 years old and yet-" I held back a sob, gripping the edge of the table. "Yet I couldn't do a damn thing to save her!"

"I see her sometimes, you know," I said, barely even realizing I was shaking. "I'll see her now and then, standing as if she's alive, but I know she isn't. I saw that night, outside in the rain from the window. Then in the cave, standing near Marilynn. I thought she was next. I thought I wouldn't be able to sa-"

Alex pushed back her chair and hurried around to hug me. I found my face enveloped by her hair as she held me tightly.

"It wasn't your fault, Zeno," Alex whispered. "You have to know that. It wasn't your fault. You did all you could. You took down the cult that killed her. You saved Marilynn, a girl who would've gotten hurt if not for you. Please, don't blame yourself."

"But... I..."

Alex leaned back, her soft smile and twinkling emerald eyes capturing my sight. "And if you ever think of blaming yourself, I'll be there to punch some sense into you."

"Heh," I let out a small laugh, wiping away my tears. "That's so like you."

"I know," she said with a smirk. "Someone has to make sure you stay yourself. Even if we end up going somewhere farther than we ever thought possible, I promise I'll be with you. Because... because I love you."

My first kiss had been with Willow. My first kiss with Alex had been back in Alola, a kiss where we were both still inexperienced with what 'love' truly meant. Those had all been slow kisses, ones that we would both initiate. Only once did Willow kiss me by surprise. But this time I found myself taking Alex by surprise. She nearly stumbled, but I caught her by her waist. She wasn't wearing lipstick. She never did. Yet her lips tasted like the sweetest thing in the world.

We parted after what felt like an eternity. Alex was blushing furiously and by how my face felt, I was sure I looked the same. But I stared into her eyes and said, "I love you."

"And I love you too," she whispered, bringing her hand up to my cheek.

A scream tore through the night, startling us. Alex backed up into the table while I stumbled into my chair, toppling it and myself over.

"Ow," I rubbed my neck, sitting up. "What was that!?"

"There's a crowd gathering over there," Alex said, pointing towards where the festival was still ongoing.

"Great," I said as I stood, setting the chair back into place. "Why is it when we always get comfortable, something just has to happen?"

"We have incredibly bad luck, what do you expect?" Alex said as we both hurried down the street. All festivities had come to a stop as the crowd murmured amongst themselves. We pushed our ways through and found ourselves next to Robert. He looked green.

"There's, uh," he shook his head, looking sick. "It's bad."

I exchanged a worried glance with Alex before we pushed our way near the front of the crowd. There, a body lay on the street. His clothes, from his jeans to his white shirt were immaculately clean. And his face still had the remains of a smile, despite the fact that his head had been severed from his own body.

"He just dropped," someone murmured uneasily in the crowd.

"I didn't even see anyone else near him," another blanched.

A gap between the crowd across from me let me see the street beyond where movement had caught my eye. There, a white-haired woman in a white kimono stared straight at me with crimson eyes. Beside her stood Ghost, an albino Sceptile with a piercing red gaze. They were too far away for me to see clearly, but I knew that a scar ran down the Pokemon's left eye. And instead of two long leaves on her arms, she only had one long sharp leaf on each arm, longer than normal Sceptile leaves. Both seemed to convey an unspoken warning before they both disappeared in the blink of an eye.